Systems and methods for providing augmented audio

Abstract

A system for providing augmented audio to users in a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of speakers disposed in a perimeter of a cabin of the vehicle; and a controller configured to receive a first audio signal and a second audio signal, to drive the plurality of speakers in accordance with a first array configuration such that a bass content of the first audio signal is produced in a first listening zone within the vehicle cabin, and to drive the plurality of speakers in accordance with a second array configuration such that a bass content of the second audio signal is produced in a first listening zone within the vehicle cabin, wherein in the first listening zone a magnitude of the first bass content is greater than a magnitude of the second bass content and in the second listening zone the magnitude of the second bass content is greater than the magnitude of the first bass content.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for providing augmented audio in a vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of speakers disposed in a perimeter of a cabin of the vehicle; and 
 a controller configured to receive a first content signal and a second content signal, and to drive the plurality of speakers in accordance with a first array configuration, the first array configuration constructively and destructively combining outputs of at least a subset of the plurality of speakers such that a first bass content of the first content signal is produced in a first listening zone within the cabin, and to drive the plurality of speakers in accordance with a second array configuration the second array configuration constructively and destructively combining outputs of at least a subset of the plurality of speakers such that a second bass content of the second content signal is produced in a second listening zone within the cabin, wherein in the first listening zone a magnitude of the first bass content is greater than a magnitude of the second bass content and in the second listening zone the magnitude of the second bass content is greater than the magnitude of the first bass content 
 wherein the controller is further configured to output to a first binaural device a first upper range content of the first content signal and to a second binaural device a second upper range content of the second content signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to time-align, in the first listening zone, the production of the first bass content with the production of the first upper range content of the first content signal by the first binaural device and to time-align, in the second listening zone, the production of the second bass content with a production of an upper range content of the second content signal by the second binaural device. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the time-alignment in at least one of the first listening zone or second listening zone is automatically determined according to at least one microphone signal. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive at least one of the first bass content and the second bass content from a first mobile device. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in the first listening zone, the magnitude of the first bass content exceeds the magnitude of the second bass content by three decibels, wherein, in the second listening zone, the magnitude of the second bass content exceeds the magnitude of the first bass content by three decibels. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller forms the first array configuration and the second array configuration by implementing a plurality of filters, wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of the plurality of filters in accordance with an error signal. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller forms the first array configuration and the second array configuration by implementing a plurality of filters, wherein the plurality of filters are selected from a stored set of filters according to a parameter representative of a configuration of the cabin. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first binaural device and the second binaural device are each selected from one of a set of speakers disposed in a headrest or an open-ear wearable. 
     
     
       9. A method for providing augmented audio to users in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a first content signal and a second content signal; 
 driving a plurality of speakers disposed in a perimeter of a cabin of the vehicle with a first array configuration, the first array configuration constructively and destructively combining outputs of at least a subset of the plurality of speakers such that a first bass content of the first content signal is produced in a first listening zone within the cabin; 
 driving the plurality of speakers in accordance with a second array configuration, the second array configuration constructively and destructively combining outputs of at least a subset of the plurality of speakers such that a second bass content of the second content signal is produced in a second listening zone within the cabin, wherein in the first listening zone a magnitude of the first bass content is greater than a magnitude of the second bass content and in the second listening zone the magnitude of the second bass content is greater than the magnitude of the first bass content; and 
 outputting to a first binaural device a first upper range content of the first content signal and to a second binaural device a second upper range content of the second content signal. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the production of the first bass content is time-aligned, in the first listening zone, with a production of the first upper range content of the first content signal by the first binaural device, wherein the production of the second bass content is time-aligned, in the second listening zone, with a production of the second upper range content of the second content signal by the second binaural device. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the time-alignment in at least one of the first listening zone or second listening zone is automatically determined according to at least one microphone signal. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first bass content and the second bass content is received from a first mobile device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first binaural device and the second binaural device are each selected from one of a set of speakers disposed in a headrest or an open-ear wearable. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein, in the first listening zone, the magnitude of the first bass content exceeds the magnitude of the second bass content by three decibels, wherein, in the second listening zone, the magnitude of the second bass content exceeds the magnitude of the first bass content by three decibels. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of adjusting at least one filter of a plurality of filters according to an error signal, the plurality of filters forming the first array configuration and the second array configuration. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of selecting a plurality of filters from a stored set of filters according to a parameter representative of a configuration of the cabin, the plurality of filters forming the first array configuration and the second array configuration.